Former Labor premier Joan Kirner has called on ALP members to rise up against branch
stacking. How do you think the ALP can end branch stacking and does
it really hurt the party anyway?

This topic is now closed - this is what you said.

Branch stacking is an important part of the political process in this country because it is usually the only way that people get involved in politics. At least these people are getting involved, even if they don't know it or only have a vague idea what is going on.

Besides, the federal election campaign is merely an effort to "stack" parliament - so why not stack at the lower levels too?

Terry

Abolish the silly branch staking and for primaries like the US system. This enables real grassroot level involvement for selecting candidates rather than faceless numbers in the branches.

Reg

Branch stacking is a problem in so far as it does not truly relfect the views of the community. Therefore would it not be easier (not to mention fairer) for the preselection process to be carried out in a similar way the council elections are carried out, namely the community voting for the member who is to be preselected insted of the party appartchiks.

Vivek

While the Labor Party is divided into two parts - the rank and file social democrat part - and the union part - the party cannot effectively tackle the branch stacking.

At present it is a non-democratic party, with rank and file members locked out of half the organisation of the party.

Until the party can claim - one member one vote - branch stacking will be the order of the day. In a party that is organised around 'groups' like unions and factions, the only way to maintain power is not by 'developing' groups (i.e. branch stacking), rather than promoting good policy, with hard-working members, and ensuring good and talented people are supported and encouraged by the party.

Instead, we have party hacks building power bases - either through unions or branch stacking - alienating 'true beleivers', whose goal is to ensure that labor, 'social democrat' values create good governments for Australia, making Australia a better and more harmonious place.

David E

Why doesnt the ALP do something useful and stack the branches of Howard or Ruddock and get rid of them?

Peter

Why would anyone (apart from stackees) want to join the Victorian ALP at the moment?

Local branch meetings are poorly attended (if you can find out when and where the next one is) and have little influence on policy or ideas-generation.

Those who currently control the Victorian Branch of the ALP have no interest in enforcing the current rules, let alone changing the rules in any way. The current power structures in the Victorian ALP bear more resemblance to something out of medieval or feudal times - factional warlords dispense patronage in the form of paid employment, thereby guaranteeing the loyalty of their apparatchiks. Factional insiders are unwilling to expose corruption (best to keep quiet/keep drawing a paycheque). The least talented are rewarded with preselection and the comfort of knowing they will be unchallenged (who would want to spend the rest of their career in Opposition federally or in the Legislative Council).

Time for the "true believers" to take back the "light on the hill" from the souless careerist hacks who currently dominate the ALP.

Peter E

There is plenty of room for talented young people in the Labor Party. If you want to do something about branch stacking, join us!